Engineering her career path: Sara Sohnly, Lynnwood High School

Q: So I understand you are senior class president. Tell me about the class of 2013 and your favorite memory?

A: Our senior class is very independent. A lot of people have their own opinions, but that’s not a bad thing. Overall, I think it’s better than the past classes.

My favorite memory is winning the boot junior year. It’s like a prize. We do games on different days during a week and there are dress-up days. Whoever has the most points wins. Usually, the senior class gets it, but we won my junior year. We won it two years in a row.

Q: The boot, huh?

A: It’s a heavy-duty boot spray-painted gold and nailed to a piece of wood. It’s a big deal to win.

Q: What are your plans for next year?

A: I just got accepted to the University of Washington. I have to choose between the University of Arizona and the UW, which has a fantastic engineering program.

Q: What type of engineering are you interested in?

A: More structural and civil engineering. I really like to be creative, but I also really like math. I thought about architecture. If I don’t end up liking civil engineering, maybe I’ll look at mechanical engineering. Everyone needs an engineer.

A: I really like Mr. Rockne. He is easy to talk to. And Mr. Chan devotes his life to math and his students.

Q: Do I understand you have played different sports in high school?

A: I played softball all four years. I also played volleyball and soccer, but I like softball the most. I feel like it’s more fun than the other sports. It’s more relaxed. It’s not as much pressure as the other sports.

Q: When you aren’t doing school work or student leadership or sports or working, what do you like to do?

A: Painting. I enjoy painting when I can. Drawing is cool and I love making collages. I like cutting up magazines, sticking pictures on a piece of paper and calling it art.

I like painting flowers. I gave a painting to my friend for her birthday and she has it up in her room. I like to ask her, ‘Who painted that?’

Q: What do you want people to remember about the Lynnwood High School Class of 2013?

A: I hope they remember our hard work. We are a pretty determined class. When we put an idea out there, we actually follow through on it.

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: That’s an interesting question. I would have to say “The Road” (by Cormac McCarthy). I just like the way he wrote it. Now I’m reading “All the Pretty Horses” (by the same author). “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” was so good. I read all three of the books.

Q: What would surprise people to learn about you?

A: I have gotten better at it, but I used to have a huge fear of public speaking. Also, I’m deathly scared of whales. They can eat you in one bite.